Vehicle construction



H. F. TOWNER. VEHICLE'CONSTRUCTION. APPLlcAxoN Flu-:D 1AN."1Q.1921.

1,397,747. Patentea N0v.'22,192 1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENToR.

ATTOR EY H. F. TOWNEB.

VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION AFILED MN. lo. 192|.

1,397,747. PawnteaN0v.22,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED- STATES 'mit,sur orties.

' f HEBER F. zrownnn, or SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

n vnHIeLE consrnucgrion.

To all w/Lomc't may concem:

.Be itknownithat I', HEBER F. TowNnn, a citizen of the United States, and `a resident of Santa Ana, in thecounty of Orange and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Construction, of which the following .is a specification. i v

This invention relatesto certain structural features in a vehicle, whereby the gage of the vehicle may be' altered.A The invention is especially useful inchangng the gage of tractorsy so that they may be used in agricultural operations upon differently spaced rows of plants.' The spacing or gage ofthe rows of different kinds of plants varies, and it is to facilitate the operation ofthe tractor between the rows of different kinds of plants that the invention vis more especially useful.

-One of the objects of the invention is to provide axle extensions of simple construction capable of being quickly placed in position on the axle or removed therefrom.

The accompanying drawingsillustrate two different forms of theinvention as at present employed rby me.

Figure 1 is a frontV elevation of an axle of a well known-type of tractor.

` Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the axle shown in Fig. 1 and vprovided with the improved extensions, the steeringknuckles and axle stubs being shown in brokenlines.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 2. l

Fig. f4 is an enlarged front elevation of one end portion of the axle, showingone of theex'tensions inplace thereon, thefassociated steering' knuckle andaxle stub being shown in broken lines. y i

Fig. 5 is aplan section on the line `indicated by w-, Fig. 4.

1Fig. 6 isa perspective View of theVV right hand axle extension 'shown in Fig. 4, looking at the rear face thereof.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of another well known type of tractor axle.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the axle shown in Fig. 7 and providediwith' a different form of the improved extension than those shown in Fig. 2, the steering knuckles and axle stubs being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation of one end portion of the axle in Fig. 7, showin one of the extensions in place thereon.

ig.10 is a plan section on the line indicated by :v10-w1", Fig. 9.

v Specification of Letters Patent.l .i i Patented l v Application filed January 10,' 1921. SerialV No. 436,136.

Nov. 22, 1921.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged rear elevation of the right hand axle. extension shown in Fig. 8.- I l First considering the form of the invent1on shown in Figs. 1 to6, inclusive, 1 indicates the flanged front axle of awell known type of tractor, knownvto the trade as the Fordson tractor. VThis axle is provided near its opposite 'ends with orifices 2te receive the ends of the radius rodvwhich are generally threaded to receive the nuts for holding the radius rod in place. f

It will not be necessary to describe both axle extensions, since they are alike in every respect excepting that they are complementary to one another one being a left hand extension and the other a right hand extension. Each extension is constructed as follows: vThere is provided al flanged or channeil-shaped member 3 having a hole 4 to recelve one end of the radius rod indicated at 5 in Fig. 5. Nuts 6,'7 on the radius rod not only secure the radius lrod to the axle but also detachably fasten the member 3 to the axle. v

lThe flanges 8 of the member 3 are spaced Y to receive the axle between them and thus they embrace 'the axle, preventing any tendency of themember 3 to slide up or down relative to the axle. The'flanges Sform intermediate of their ends annular members 9, the bores 10 of which arev axially alined with each other and with the bore 11 of the knuckle-pin bearing 12 of the axle. This bearing 12, in the ordinary assembly of the axle and-steering knuckle, receivesthe steering knuckle-pin or pivot in a manner well understood in the art pertaining to such devices. In this instance a bolt 13 is engaged rwith the bores 10, 11 and is secured in place by the nut 14.1 The member 3 is provided `withfa curved face a fitting along one side of the beari g 12, thus to add to the rigidity of the construction. Y

The member 3 is provided at one Lend with a knuckle-.pin bearing 15 of thesame length as the knuckle-pin bearing 12, the bore 16 of the bearing 15 receiving the knuckle-pinl or pivot indicated in broken lines at 17. The pivot 17 passes through the two knuckle bearings indicated in broken lines at 18, and the axle stub is indicated in broken lines at 19. When the axle extension plates 3 are in place, as shown in Fig. 2, the gage of the tractor is increased by a distance equal to twice the distance between the axes of the. bores 10, 16 of either oneof the axle extensions. Y

Whenvit lis desired to use the tractor With` its original gage, onev end of thejfront axle will be jacked up by any of the usual ,meansi empioyed for such purposes, and at zthe raisedend the knucklepivot 17v will beremoved Vso'as to detach the associated steering knuckle and theA wheel mounted thereon romthe axle extension. Thenrthe nuts v"I, 14 will be removed and the bolt 13 vdrawn out'ottbe bearing 12. Y rlrghis enables the plate 3.to be detached. Then the steering knuckle will'be 'placed'in position to aline its bearin 18vw1th the bearing 12 and the knuckle pin 17 willvv be slipped through said bearings to pivotally connect .the steering knuckle directly to `the axle, this being the original L relation of the axle and steering knuckle as thetractor is constructed by the manufacturer. g x

'Y Now refer] ing moreparticuiarlytofFigS. 7 to 1-1, inclusive, of the drawings, another form ofthe invention is constructed as'follows: The flanged axle, indicated atQl, corresponds to the front axle of a well known type .of tractor, known tothe trade'as the Samson tractor. This axlefill is provided with orifices 22 tovreceive 'the ends :ofthe radius rod'in thev samefgmanner as hereinbefore described. Each of the axle 'extenf sions inthis formotthe .invention comprises i a fianged plate 23 provided'with a hole 24 to receive one end lof'theradius rod,.indi cated fragmentarily at 25 in Fig.'10 ofthe drawings. The Vradius rod is secured .to the laxle and likewise the plate 23 'is secured to the axle by nuts 26, 27 threaded onto the radius rod.

The flanges 28 of the plate 23 form a pair of vspaced annularmembers 29 similarto the annular members 9, excepting that the members V2.9: are' placed-'sufficiently close to each-othertov permit of their insertion 'between thevknuckleLpin hearings 321cm the endsoipthe axle. Ajboltf''engages the bores 30 and'31 and'thennt 84 holds the 'bolt' securelyl in place.l The plate V23 is. providedv with. curved .faces l5 fitting along one sideof thebearingf82, thus to addto' the rigidity/of theconstruotivoi'r.iIv u y l At one end, the member :iw-provided .with a-ipair off spaced'lmckleapin bearings 35, the 'bores of 'whficlrsneiadapted-t0V 'receive the knuckle'pin-B for 'lrixvotallyf'coning instead of a pail.'V of spaced knucklepin bearingsasin thevfirst the invention., v

I 'Clailll f Y l.' In vehicle construction, the' combination with anaxle havin a knuckle-pivot bearing, oan' axle extension provided with escribed form of a bore to registerwith-the bore ofi the bear` ing, and having a curvedpo'rtion tting one side of the knuckle-pivot bear-ing,y fastening means passing-through theregistering bores, and a knuckle-pivot bearing'oai the yextension adapted to receive the pivot lof va 'steer-v ing knuckle. Y

2. In vehicle construction, the combina/tion with an axle having 'a knuckle-,pivot bearing, of anfaxle -Y extension having a curved portion fitting one side of saidbearing, means fastening the extension to said bearing, and a :knuck1e-pivot bearing on the extension adapted tcfreceivel the pivot of a steering knuckle. M u

3. In vehicle construction, the combination with an axle having aknuckle-.piv'ot bearing, of an axleexlsionsfitting one side of the bearing, means .fastening the extension on thcaxle, and a knuckle-plvot bearing on the extension adapted to receive the; pivot of a steering knuckle.' j 1- et; In Vvehlcle constructiom :the .combination with a' flanged axle having va knucklevpivot bearing, of an axle lextenslon provided with' flanges embracing the-flanges of the axle, said extension-.having arbore to reg.- ister with the bore of ,thefbearingyga -bolt passing through the registering bores, and ak bolt extending` through the-webs of''lthe axle and axle extension.

SULLY Russen' i EUGENE A. RoBINsoN.

n V` Signed atSanta ',na, Calif. this 28th 

